Myself, I would rather write a research paper because I feel like I’m walking on a high wire without a net if I cannot fall back upon the strength of that research. I love the look of an essay that is sprinkled with quotes from authoritative sources. It makes my paper read convincingly, shows them I have done my homework, and helps to take the level of my paper up a definite notch or two, taking it from freshmen level to graduate level writing.
Also, it doesn’t have to be a research paper assignment, per se, to choose to add research to your paper on your own. Nothing shows your professor how hard you’ve worked upon your essay that adding carefully selected quotes and paraphrases from really high quality sources.
Also, keep in mind that you cannot have an essay without a solid thesis statement. More than any other part of the essay, you do not have an essay without this one, defining, crucial element. You must have a statement which encapsulates, in one sentence, what your paper will do, argue, or seek to accomplish.
For example, “In this essay, I will explore what human genotyping is doing in the field of diseases, specifically how genotyping is helping scientists to pin down the root causes of diseases by studying their origination in the body.
Other element all essays need are a highly authentic, interesting, well written close, paragraphs in the body full of convincing evidence which seek to prove and accomplish proving your thesis, and a closing paragraph which echoes in the mind, ear, and heart of your reader.
You must learn to think of all your writing projects as masterpieces in progress. Just as a really skilled painter will need lots of time to bring a really good painting into being, you need time to take that blank sheet of paper and filling it with wonderful words, phrases, quotes, and theories that really make the essay and the writing, especially, come alive.
If you need more ideas on how to write an essay, you may talk with people you know such as colleagues on what they may be writing about. For original topic and information you may need to read the newspaper and get an idea of what is trending at the moment. Be optimistic so you have a good topic worth writing about.